I hope you're all preparing for and looking forward to a great holiday season this year.

Earlier this month, many of our members, including myself, attended the Investigator's Superconference in New York. The Superconference offered many wonderful networking opportunities with PIs from all across the country. There were excellent speakers including a preconference seminar by NCISS member Brandon Perron.

The Board also met for the NCISS Mid-Term Board meeting. There was an appearance from Keith Nelson of LobbyIt and we discussed the alarming revival of privacy and data protection legislation discussion. All the more reason why now is a critical time to be a part of NCISS as we advocate for our industry on Capitol Hill!

The Board also appointed Paul Cicarella to the vacant position of Region 2 Director. Paul operates Advanced Investigations, LLC out of Stratford, CT and his Region will cover the northeast states (CT-MA-ME-NH-NJ-NY-RI-VT).

NCISS Annual Meeting and Hit the Hill!

As we prepare to close 2018 and look forward to 2019, there are already some important dates to mark on your calendars. Registration is now open for our 2019 Annual Meeting and Hit the Hill events to be held April 29th through May 1st. This year we will be at the Capitol Skyline Hotel in Washington, DC - just minutes walking distance to the US Capitol and our Senate and Representative offices. Be sure to hold this time on your calendars and plan to attend if possible. Not only is this year important with pending privacy and data records legislation, this is really a wonderful opportunity to experience what NCISS is all about, which is advocating for legislation that benefits our industry.

Following the 2018 mid-term elections, Congress is now in a 'lame duck' session; however, Congress is already on the fast track to submit new legislation immediately following the swearing in of the new Congress. This means NCISS has to be prepared NOW and this will be the most important mission, and Hit the Hill event, in several years! Until legislation is introduced, it cannot be tracked. However, our lobbyist in Washington DC and the media have given us warnings as the outlook becomes more clear - and potentially very damaging to our professions.

YOUR SUPPORT IS NEEDED NOW!!

Recently, NCISS shared with Professional Investigators and Security Agencies the latest update from Lobbyit as a forewarning to the outlook for a new Congress, particularly after the recent privacy laws passed in the European Union and similar to legislation rushed through the California legislature and signed into law. Please revisit this important information at https://conta.cc/2yvS9l6 - Data Privacy -- Background as the Federal Debate Takes Shape. It includes testimony and Q&A at the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Information about the recent EU and California privacy and data protection laws are in the last NCISS Your Advocate at www.nciss.org/Your-Advocate-August-2018.Visit www.nciss.org/Your-Advocate-December-2018 for more examples, which should greatly concern every NCISS member!

As many members are part of other state, national and international associations with varying benefits, at NCISS we offer unique benefits - from legislative advocacy and alerts to multi-association integral networking. Your NCISS membership extends to tens of thousands of friends and colleagues in the investigation and security professions.

The National Council of Investigation and Security Services, Inc., is a cooperative effort of those companies and associations responsible for providing private security and investigation services to the legal profession, business community, government and the public.

It is the role of NCISS to meet and solve these problems while seeking to uncover and recommend action on any hidden potential problems which may have an effect on our profession.

Members can submit business card sized ads for this year's Your Advocate and event placards. These must be ready-made artwork - preferably your business card in JPEG in at least 300dpi for enlargement.